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Description / Abstract:
INTRODUCI'ION
The decorative laminate industry has made many technical and
aesthetic advances in recent years, and the ever-increasing number
of ways in which decorative laminates are being employed is a
testimonial to the virtues of the product. You, our customer, have
come to expect more and more from the material which we sell.
Despite the efforts of individual laminate manufacturers to
disseminate pertinent fabrication infonnation, there still seems to
be a void which needs to be filled. As may be expected in a growing
industry, the number and variety of problems experienced in
fabrication and installation has increased, and it is the purpose
of this handbook to bring needed information to all who may be
concerned with the fabrication and installation of plastic
laminates.
For many years, the producers of plastic laminates have been
guided· by the NEMA "Standards Publication for Laminated
Thermosetting Decorative Sheets," LD l. Part 7 in Publication No.
LD 1 is of particular value to the fabricator and installer and is
reproduced in its entirety as an appendix to this handbook (see
page 19).
Constant research by manufacturers has resulted in improvement
of the physical properties of laminates. When tested in accordance
with NEMA Publication No. LD 1, ·plastic laminates normally meet or
exceed the requirements set forth in that publication. Rarely does
substandard material slip past the many inspection points built
into the system.
Laminates may fail in field application for the fol1owing
reasons:
I. Inferior or defective materials.
2. Improper fabrication techniques.
3. Misapplication of materials.
It is hoped that this handbook will help to pinpoint the causes
for such failures and to provide a better understanding of the
laminate itself and its uses .